Enameled metal top for tables and the like



. April 14, 1931. F. GEIGER I 'ENAMELED METAL TOP FOR TABLES AND THELIKE Filed June 16, 1927 INVEN TOR.

r mmrmnuml ATTORNEY6,

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 warren s'ra'rss FREDERICK seasn ra'rsn'r seriesGEIGER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, .ASSIGNOR TO ENAMEL ZERODUC TF3 COMPANY, OFCLEVELAND, OHIO, A CGRPOR-ATION OF OHIO ENAMELEI) DIETAL TOP FOR TABLESAND THE LIKE Application filed June 16, 1927. Serial ire-199,377.

Enamel ware table tops and the like while satisfactory in general,occasionally show a tendency to warpage or buckling as a result ofstresses developed in manufacturing. The

avoidance of such buckling is essential to satisfactory usage, and theprevention of this 7 difficulty is accordingly highly desirable.-

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, con- 19 sists of the features hereinafter fully described, andparticularly'pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawing setting forthin detail certain structure embodyingthe invention, such structure being illustrative however of but one ofthe various ways in which the prin-' ciple of the invention may beemployed.

In said annexed drawing: V Fig. 1 is an inverse plan of a'table topembodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a larger formoftop; Fig. 3 1s a sec tlon taken on a plane indlcated by the line;

III-III, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4: is a sectional N detail taken on a planeindicated by the line 7 IV-IV, Fig. 3.

The reference numeral 1 in the drawing (lQSI HHtQS a sheet metal tostain zed with a h u '1 flange 2, and enameled or finished in usual orpreferred style. Underneath, and within 59 the flange are positionedthrust-strips 3 which ordinarily are of wo0d,but which in some instancesmay be of metal in proportionately" prise a bar 4, generally of wood,but insome 7 instances of metal, depending upon the size andconditions,- and engaging between the end of the bar and the adjacentthrust-strip 3 is an eXtensor screw 5. In a desirable form, this screwmayhave a head 6 with wrenchfacets andbearing directly against athrustplate 7 set on the edge of the thrust-strip.

It will now be seen that with the thruststrips 8 located at opposedsides, and the extensor bar and screw 5 positioned therebetween, byturning up the screw, the desired amount'of tension may be brought uponthe sheet, thus insuring it against distortion. The particulararrangement of the extensor bars will depend in each instance upon thesize and relative dimensions of. the article,

and one or more correspondingly may be enipioyeu. in Fig. 1 for a relatvely small table top, a single extensor is shown as adequate.

With larger articles, two or more such extensors may be arranged, eitherlongitudinally of the article, or more generally transversely.

In this manner, tops for tables, counters or quite extended surfacesgenerally may be provided, and adequately safeguarded against distortivechange, and by virtue of the adjustable screw take up, the tension maybe at any time regulated to suit the particular needs. For a cheaperconstruction, I also contemplate in some instances substituting theadjustable screw by a wedge construction, this to an extent giving someof the" advantages of the invention, but less completely than thepreferred form as described.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details disclosed, provided the meansstated in the following claim or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention-:

A. table top or the likeof sheet metal hav-' ing a marginal flangebeneath, thrust-strips within the flange at opposed sides, andpermanently retained means for adj ustably tensioning the top, saidmeans including an tensor between said strips comprising a bar and anextensor screw bearmg between plates at the end of the bar and the edgeof the adjacent thrust-strip.

Signed by me this 8th day of June, 1927. 9

FREDERIGK The screw 5 is threaded into a support-plate 58 8. onthe endof the bar 4.

